With the dust beginning to settle following a dramatic day for the future of travel to the Isles of Scilly there’s at least one issue that is still causing disbelief – the price.

A shock announcement of a new helicopter service that will run at Land’s End Airport to the picturesque isles from May this year was made by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company yesterday (Thursday February 15).

The 10-seater chopper will operate all year-round, up to six days a week with up to eight return flights a day.

We are told that the flight time will be about 15 minutes and that fares start at £215 for a return ticket.

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As Cornwall Live’s editor Jacqui Merrington, on the scene at Land’s End airport, staged a live interview via Facebook yesterday afternoon with chairman of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, Andrew May, there was a particular theme to the comments.

“It’s sad that the ‘from £215 return fare’ will be out of the price range of most local people here in Cornwall,” commented James Kitto as the broadcast unfolded.

James Smith added: “£215 per person is ludicrous and prohibitive, especially when you can jump on a budget airline to Venice for £20, a real pity.

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James Ball was also surprised by the figure, he added: “He just said it’s low cost fuel so where’s all the money going as they already have the facilities so there are no new costs, why so expensive?”

However, supporters of the Steamship Company’s new service have pointed out that the new helicopter is ‘cutting edge’ and is a luxurious way to travel – though other transport is still available through the group.

The company announced that it has already had ‘huge interest’ in the flights. More than 600 people are said to have pre-registered their interest within the first hour of the service being announced, so much so it is understood that the website crashed.

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Though when we shared another video of the scenic flight on the Cornwall Live Facebook similar comments came flooding in.

“From £215 per person, nah I think I’ll give it a miss thank you,” wrote Mick Domville. “I’d rather put on my inflatable armbands and swim it myself.”

Sharon Giles added: “So for me and the other half £430, nah rather put the money to [an] all-inclusive holiday in the sun.”

Kyle Reed said: “For £45 you could fly to Canada and back. How can they justify that?”

Though others continued to brand it “too expensive”, John Goody commented: “Very welcome news and cheaper than the proposed Penzance service.”

Isles of Scilly Steamship Company helicopter at Land's End (Image: Greg Martin)

Mr May has reiterated that the Steamship Group operates a travel club that allows islanders to fly return to Land’s end on a six-wing in the winter for about £100 and that the standard aeroplane fare is about £180 and even lower for the Scillonian within the travel club.

“What we have learnt about the helicopter is that they are the most stunningly beautiful machine,” he told the BBC.

“It’s really quite breathtaking, it’s very modern but anybody that knows anything about helicopters is not going to pretend that they are low-cost.

“They are sophisticated animals and there will be a higher cost. So in essence we’re looking at fares from about £215 from Land’s End starting in May for a return flight.”